For new homeowners who are collecting / have collected their keys, you might have signed up with one of the local renovation portals and requested for quotations. Now, the BIG question is which interior design company’s proposal will you choose?

 

Selecting an interior design company is crucial, especially appointing the ‘right’ interior designer who will manage your entire renovation works. Here are some pointers to take note of:

 

Years of Experience
One of the major concerns for homeowners is the interior designers’ years of industry experience. Though it is advisable to engage designers with considerable experience, this does not mean that you shouldn’t engage a young designer. Young designers are fresh and adds a new perspective to designing a home. They usually have a mentor / supervisor who helps them meet clients and oversee the project. This means that they rarely work alone so homeowners can be well assured that they are in capable hands. Another approach is to look at a company / designer’s portfolio as it will give you good insights on the quality of work and design capabilities.

 

 

Reputation
While the reputation of the interior design company is important, homeowners must also take into consideration the reputation of the interior designer. A possible solution for this is to check through past customers’ reviews of their engagement with the specific interior designer. Alternatively, you can request for a site visit of the interior designer’s ongoing or past projects to check for yourself their workmanship while at the same time be able to ask the homeowner on their experience working with the interior designer.

 

Professionalism
Professional interior designers should have a good understanding of design, coupled with technical expertise to enhance the functionality and aesthetics of your home. He / she must be knowledgeable, have a good understanding of current interior design trends and able to propose designs that fits your lifestyle preferences. At the same time, you need to select an interior designer who is reasonably responsive and honest.

 

 

Design Style
Though most interior designers are comfortable with various design concepts, some might have a flair for certain design concepts. In case you have a specific style that you plan to go for, check with them on similar past designs.

 

Chemistry
If you are truly at a loss, trust your gut instincts. Reputation and experience aside, always decide based on how comfortable you feel with the interior designer. There have been many cases where homeowners chose a designer based on price and not how comfortable they are with the designer that halfway through the project, the relationship fell apart which in turn disrupted the renovation process. Renovating your home is a long-term commitment, while price and quality is important, how comfortable you are and being able to communicate openly with the interior designer is just as important.